pharma and biotech · Philadelphia
Cell Bio 2027Philadelphia exhibitor guide: booth costs, dates and deadlines
Microscopes meet the poster aisles: Cell Bio 2027 booths in Philadelphia
- Event dates
- December 4–8, 2027
- Exhibit hall
- Not confirmed yet
- Venue
- Philadelphia, PAVenue not confirmed yet
4.9 star rating from clients10,000+ booths built3,000+ exhibitors servedSince 2015
Quick answers
Cell Bio 2027 in 30 seconds
The short version for Cell Bio exhibitors. Sources for each Cell Bio figure are further down the page.
- When is Cell Bio 2027?
- December 4–8, 2027, at Philadelphia, PA (venue not confirmed yet).
- When does the Cell Bio exhibit hall open?
- Not confirmed yet for 2027. In 2026 the exhibits open December 13–15, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., at the San Diego Convention Center.
- How much is booth space at Cell Bio?
- $41 per sq ft, 2026 rate, paid to the organizer.
- What does a 10×20 Cell Bio booth cost all-in?
- $7,500 – $15,000 for a Purple rental in Philadelphia: design, graphics, lighting, install and dismantle. Booth space and show services are billed by the show.
Everything about Cell Bio 2027 in one place
Cell Bio 2027 fact sheet
| Official name | Cell Bio 2027, the joint annual meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and EMBO |
|---|---|
| Event dates | December 4–8, 2027 |
| Exhibit hall dates | Not confirmed yet In 2026 the exhibits open December 13–15, 9:30 a.m.–4 p.m., at the San Diego Convention Center |
| Venue | Philadelphia, PA |
| Organizer | American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), with EMBO; exhibits managed by SPARGO, Inc. |
| Who attends | Cell biologists, imaging specialists, lab heads and trainees; 70% work in academia with a research focus |
| Booth space | $41 per sq ft, 2026 rate source |
| Nearest airport | Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) |
| Hotels | ASCB's official housing block; 2027 housing not confirmed yet |
| Official website | ascb.org |
Official Cell Bio resources
Cell Bio 2027 calendar
Cell Bio 2027 dates and deadlines
In order: the dates the Cell Bio organizer has published, each linked to the page that states it. The next date is highlighted.
01 Purple at Cell Bio 2027
Microscopes meet the poster aisles: Cell Bio 2027 booths in Philadelphia
We build Cell Bio booths where a cell biologist can see your live-cell images at full resolution and talk reagents in the minutes between poster rows. Cell Bio 2027 returns to Philadelphia; the building is not confirmed yet, and we book freight and labor the day ASCB names it.
- Dec 4–8, 2027 · Philadelphia
- 4,000+ attendees, 2025
- Venue not confirmed yet
What makes Cell Bio different, and how we build for it
Cell Bio is the joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology and EMBO, and its exhibit hall, which ASCB calls the Learning Center, works differently from a trade floor: posters are integrated throughout the hall, and nine dedicated hours are set aside for attendees to explore exhibits and posters, with roundtable discussions on hot topics and, new for 2026, digital posters. SPARGO, Inc. manages exhibits for ASCB. In 2025, 71% of surveyed attendees spent four or more hours in the hall and 43% planned a purchase or recommendation within six months. Active selling is not permitted; the booth is for conversation and demos.
Live-cell and super-resolution images shown at full quality, objective and camera specs, and a person who can talk phototoxicity and acquisition speed.
Media, cell lines, antibodies and plasticware they can order for next month's experiments, with validation data for their cell type.
Protocols, job leads and a friendly demo; 41% of 2025 attendees spent six or more hours in the hall, so they come back.
Your team in Philadelphia
Two shops behind your Cell Bio booth
We build in our own production shop in Fishkill, NY, and our Las Vegas hub, ship to Philadelphia, and install with our own project manager on the floor and vetted local labor. Every Cell Bio build runs a predictable 30 to 45 days and gets a pre-show QA, with secure storage after.
The booth is lit and stocked when your team reaches Philadelphia. You just show up.
Inside Cell Bio 2027
Cell Bio rules that shape your booth
Cell Bio offers inline booths up to 10×30 at 8 feet and islands from 400 square feet, but no peninsula or end-cap booths; taller inline fixtures near neighbors stay within 5 feet of the back line (2026 rules). We size your booth to one of the two shapes.
Islands must be open on all sides with sight lines through the design, the top of any sign stays within 20 feet of the floor with no variances, and multi-level exhibits are not allowed (2026 rules). We file drawings with the sign included.
Active selling and order taking are not permitted at Cell Bio, and exhibits must be educational in character, subject to ASCB approval (2026 rules). We design for demonstrations and follow-up, with quote requests captured digitally.
Photography in the exhibit hall is prohibited except booth photography contracted through the official show photographer, and exhibitors may not film others' products (2026 rules). We arrange that booking for you.
Advertising aimed at attendees outside the hall, on vehicles, boats, building facades and similar, is banned within five miles of the convention center from three days before to three days after the meeting (2026 rules). We keep your promotion inside the booth.
Programs worth planning for
An exhibitor-only benefit for booths of at least 600 square feet: host workshops inside your own booth, provided noise stays within ASCB's limits (2026 prospectus).
Posters are placed throughout the exhibit hall, with nine dedicated hours for exhibits and posters; digital posters were added for 2026.
Hall roundtables on current scientific topics that ASCB lists among the features drawing attendees into the exhibit hall.
ASCB sells sponsorships and advertising through SPARGO alongside booth space, from on-site branding to online publications, for exhibitors who want more presence.
Cell Bio is the U.S. year-end meeting for cell biology tools; choose it over the Biophysical Society meeting when your microscopes, cell culture products or antibodies sell to cell and developmental biology labs rather than structural and physical biophysics groups. Compare all the pharma and biotech shows we build for →
pharma and biotech at Cell Bio
The industry behind Cell Bio, in pictures
02 Booths & pricing for Cell Bio 2027
Popular booth sizes at Cell Bio
Cell Bio sells space by the square foot in 10×10 multiples, with no peninsulas or end-caps; islands start around 400 square feet (2026 rules). Reagent and publishing companies usually line up along the inline rows, while imaging companies anchor the hall with islands. Our advice: a 10×20 inline when you show consumables, a 20×20 island once a live microscope is part of the pitch.
A reagent or antibody inline: an 8-foot back wall of validated images, a counter for samples and a screen cycling fluorescence data, nothing above the backdrop.
Shown: a Purple inline booth for Optinova
See 10×20 rental booths →
A cell culture or lab equipment inline with a benchtop incubator or imager in the middle, its tall pieces kept within 5 feet of the back line near neighbors.
See 10×30 rental booths →
An island for a confocal or live-cell imaging system, open on all four sides, with a sign whose top stays under 20 feet and drawings filed with ASCB.
Shown: a Purple island exhibit for Floy
See 20×20 rental booths →
A flagship island of 600 square feet or more, the size at which ASCB lets you host workshops inside your booth, with seating and a darkened imaging bay.
Shown: a Purple large-format exhibit for Olon / Infa Group
See 20×30 rental booths →In Purple's Cell Bio price
- Design and a 3D rendering for Cell Bio, revised until it is right
- Structure, printed graphics, counters and storage, as specified for Cell Bio
- Lighting and power distribution inside your Cell Bio booth
- Installation and dismantle, with our project manager on the floor
- Show-service orders and deadlines for Cell Bio, tracked on your behalf
Paid to Cell Bio and its contractor
- Booth space, paid to American Society for Cell Biology
- Material handling (drayage) at Philadelphia, where the space rate does not include it
- Electrical service, internet and rigging at Philadelphia
- Booth cleaning and whatever union labor the Cell Bio venue requires
Rates to plan with for Cell Bio:
- Booth space, inline $41 per sq ft, 2026 rate source
- Booth space, island or corner $44 per sq ft, 2026 rate source
- Booth space, nonprofit $34 per sq ft, 2026 rate source
Before you sign, your proposal already estimates each of these show charges, so the Cell Bio total is on paper.
All-in 2026 rental ranges: design, structure, graphics, installation and dismantle are included, and custom Cell Bio builds are quoted per project. The booth cost calculator gives an exact number for your Cell Bio booth; the 2026 booth cost guide has the 2026 ranges.
Send your Cell Bio booth size and what the space needs to do for your team. Expect a reply within one business day and, usually within a week, a rendering and a fixed proposal for Cell Bio. No charge.
Your people arrive at Philadelphia to a lit, stocked booth. You just show up.
03 Built by Purple
Booths we designed, built and installed: a few to compare for Cell Bio
Case study · Pixee Medical
Pixee Medical at a medical technology congress
A demo-first booth for augmented-reality surgical guidance, laid out so every visitor could try the technology while traffic kept moving.
Pixee Medical's demo-led booth was built so visitors could try the technology themselves; at Cell Bio the equivalent is a microscope showing live cells to scientists fresh from the posters.
Read the Pixee Medical case study All case studies →“We were very happy with the experience and with the support provided throughout the project. The booth looked great, the coordination process was smooth, and everything was handled professionally, which made the event much easier for our team.”
Miriam Valdes, Communications Manager, INdermal · read more client reviews
Trusted by exhibitors including
04 Designing for microscopy and imaging, cell culture, antibody and reagent, lab equipment and software companies, plus scientific publishers at Cell Bio
Four things we get right for Cell Bio exhibitors
1Dark bay for the best images
Cell biologists judge a microscope by the image, and a bright convention hall washes out fluorescence on screen. We build a shaded imaging alcove with a high-contrast monitor inside the booth, so live-cell data reads the way it does in their own lab.
2No selling, so plan conversations
ASCB does not permit active selling or order taking on the floor (2026 rules). We design around a stand-up data table and a quiet two-seat nook, with QR links to quote requests, so the booth starts relationships that close after the meeting.
3Workshops start at 600 square feet
Booths of at least 600 square feet may host workshops inside the booth, provided the exhibitor manages noise under ASCB's 85-decibel limit. For flagship clients we build a 20×30 with a small seated area and directional audio for scheduled sessions.
4Carpet the whole booth
Since 2022 ASCB has left the Cell Bio aisles uncarpeted as a sustainability measure and requires exhibitors to carpet their entire booth. We ship a reusable flooring system with each booth and send it on to your next meeting instead of renting carpet.
Concept rendering
Every Cell Bio proposal includes a rendering like this
The 3D view shows layout, graphics, lighting and product positions before we cut a panel, and we revise it until the Cell Bio booth is right. Above: a Purple concept for Olon.
Start my Cell Bio concept05 Philadelphia, PA
Logistics for Cell Bio 2027, handled
Cell Bio 2027 is set for Philadelphia, but ASCB has not yet named the building, so freight targets, the advance warehouse and labor rules are not confirmed yet. Our plan starts from ASCB's own 2026 terms: SPARGO manages exhibits, Freeman was the official contractor, exhibitors used union labor through official contractors, and outside contractors needed an EAC form and insurance by mid-November. When Cell Bio last met in Philadelphia, in 2025, it used the Pennsylvania Convention Center. As soon as the 2027 venue is announced we book crates, labor and hotels around it and update your timeline.
What Purple handles
- Imaging alcove and screens tuned for fluorescence data
- Island drawings and EAC paperwork filed with ASCB Exposition Management
- Reusable full-booth flooring for ASCB's uncarpeted aisles
- Freight booked once the 2027 Philadelphia venue is named
- Install and teardown run by our own project manager
- Graphics swapped between Cell Bio and your spring meetings
Your Cell Bio timeline, from move-in back
We need your Cell Bio design signed off by About 10 weeks before move-in.
- First half of 2027Space contract with SPARGO; in the 2026 cycle 50% was due on application from February 11 and the balance by June 11.
- About 10 weeks before move-inDesign sign-off; island drawings prepared for ASCB Exposition Management.
- 8 to 4 weeks before move-inProduction in our Fishkill, NY shop over 30 to 45 days; EAC form, insurance and giveaway approvals filed (mid-November in 2026).
- About 3 weeks before move-inCrates leave for the advance warehouse named in the 2027 Exhibitor Service Manual.
- Days before December 4, 2027Move-in by our project manager and vetted local labor; in 2026 move-in ran the two days before the hall opened.
- December 4–8, 2027Meeting days; we dismantle after the official close and route the booth to storage or your next meeting.
Purple's planning timeline for Cell Bio. Official move-in, freight target and order deadlines for Cell Bio come from your exhibitor kit and assigned schedule; we confirm them against your booth when you book.
Print the Cell Bio budget & deadline sheetTravel to Cell Bio 2027
Getting to Cell Bio 2027: airport and hotels
Fly in
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL)
Stay
ASCB's official housing block; 2027 housing not confirmed yet
Travel facts from ascb.org.
Cell Bio by the numbers
Cell Bio year by year
How Cell Bio 2027 compares with other pharma and biotech shows
The pharma and biotech shows closest to Cell Bio on the calendar, with the latest size each organizer has published. Select any name to open our exhibitor guide for that show.
| Show | Dates | City | Latest published size |
|---|---|---|---|
| SITC Annual MeetingSociety for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) | November 3–7, 2027 | National Harbor, MD | 45% of SITC 2025 attendees |
| AAPS PharmSci 360American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) | November 14–17, 2027 | Anaheim, CA | – |
| Cell BioAmerican Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) | December 4–8, 2027 | Philadelphia, PA | 4,000+ total attendees, Cell Bio 2025 survey |
| ASHP MidyearAmerican Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) | December 5–8, 2027 | Las Vegas, NV | 20,005 registrants attendees (2025) |
| PDA Pharmaceutical Microbiology ConferenceParenteral Drug Association (PDA) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Washington, DC | 10 Exhibitor Tech Talks (2026) |
| ASCP Annual MeetingAmerican Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | National Harbor, MD | 800+ attendees · 70+ exhibitors (2026) |
| PODDQuestex (Fierce Life Sciences) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Boston, MA | 1,000+ executives expected (Questex, June 2026) attendees |
| Advanced Therapies USATerrapinn | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Boston, MA | 1,200+ attendees · 50+ exhibitors (2026) |
| EASEastern Analytical Symposium (EAS) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Plainsboro, NJ | 992 registrations attendees (2025) |
| PRIM&R Annual ConferencePRIM&R (Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research) | 2027 dates not confirmed yet | Denver, CO | 2,000+ attendees (2026) |
Cell Bio exhibitor questions
Questions exhibitors ask us before Cell Bio
How much does a booth at Cell Bio cost?
ASCB has not posted 2027 rates. In 2026 space cost $41 per square foot inline and $44 for corners and islands, so a 20×20 island was $17,600 in space. Our custom 20×20 runs $50,000 to $120,000 and a 10×20 rental $7,500 to $15,000; flooring and contractor services come on top.
When is the Cell Bio 2027 booth payment deadline?
ASCB's 2027 payment dates are not confirmed yet. For the 2026 meeting, 50% of space was due from February 11, full payment by June 11, and island drawings, EAC forms and giveaway requests by November 13, 2026. We work back from the 2027 dates once ASCB publishes them.
Can we rent a booth for Cell Bio?
Rental fits Cell Bio's inline rows and islands well: fabric graphics, a counter, LED lighting tuned for image screens, storage and the full-booth flooring ASCB asks for, delivered and installed by our team. A 10×20 runs $7,500 to $15,000; ASCB bills space separately.
Where is Cell Bio 2027 held?
Cell Bio 2027 is in Philadelphia; the building is not confirmed yet. ASCB lists the meeting for December 4–8, 2027 without naming a venue. The previous Philadelphia meeting, Cell Bio 2025, used the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and we plan freight and labor the moment the 2027 venue is published.
What booth shapes and heights does Cell Bio allow?
Under the 2026 rules, inline booths of 10×10 to 10×30 may reach 8 feet, with taller fixtures near neighbors kept within 5 feet of the back line; peninsulas and end-caps are not offered. Islands of 400 square feet or more need approved drawings, sign tops stop at 20 feet and multi-level exhibits are banned.
Can we serve coffee or drinks in our Cell Bio booth?
Under the 2026 rules, beer, wine and light snacks were allowed if ordered through the convention center's exclusive caterer and approved by ASCB, and island booths could run an espresso machine if lines fit inside the booth. Candy had to be individually wrapped.
Can a Cell Bio booth be reused at other meetings?
A Cell Bio inline or island carries over to the Biophysical Society meeting in February and ASBMB in the spring, and a neuroscience-focused version fits SfN in October. We store it, refresh the imagery for each audience and ship to the next venue.
Can we take photos in the Cell Bio exhibit hall?
Photography in the exhibit hall was prohibited under the 2026 rules, except booth photography contracted through the official show photographer, and no exhibitor may film another's products. We book the official photographer for you if you want images of the finished booth.
When is Cell Bio 2027?
Cell Bio 2027 runs December 4–8, 2027 in Philadelphia, per ASCB's future meetings page. ASCB has not yet posted the 2027 exhibit days (not confirmed yet). Before that comes Cell Bio 2026 in San Diego, December 12–15, 2026, with exhibits December 13–15.
What are the Cell Bio exhibit hall hours?
Hours for 2027 are not confirmed yet. At Cell Bio 2026 in San Diego the exhibits open Sunday to Tuesday, December 13–15, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, inside the December 12–15 meeting, with posters placed throughout the hall.
How many people attend Cell Bio?
ASCB's 2026 prospectus reports 4,000+ total attendees and 3,100+ professional attendees, from 44 countries, based on the Cell Bio 2025 survey. Seventy-eight percent are involved in purchasing decisions, and 80% come from North America.
Who organizes Cell Bio?
The American Society for Cell Biology runs Cell Bio jointly with EMBO, the European Molecular Biology Organization. SPARGO, Inc. sells and manages the exhibits on ASCB's behalf, and the exhibitor service manual comes from the official general contractor.
Who can exhibit at Cell Bio?
ASCB accepts educational exhibits: research and teaching tools, services, publications or research findings relevant to cell biology. ASCB decides eligibility and may refuse or close exhibits that reflect poorly on the meeting; selling and order taking on the floor are not permitted.
What do Cell Bio attendees look for in the exhibit hall?
Imaging, cell culture, microscopes, antibodies, cells and cell lines, proteins and lab equipment lead ASCB's list of what attendees come to find. In ASCB's Cell Bio 2025 survey, 71% spent four or more hours in the exhibit hall and 70% work in academic research.
Before you sign for Cell Bio
Five questions to ask any exhibit builder for Cell Bio:
- Is every fee on the proposal, including what the Cell Bio show contractor bills?
- Who builds the Cell Bio booth: your own shop or a subcontractor?
- Will your project manager be on the floor at Philadelphia for install and dismantle?
- What exactly is in the rental, and what is billed by the show?
- Once Cell Bio closes, where does the booth go and what does storage cost?
Common situations
Already own a booth? We refresh its graphics, repair what is worn, ship and install it for Cell Bio, and store it between shows. You keep the structure you paid for and bring it to Cell Bio.
Exhibiting from outside the US? We are your team on the ground at Philadelphia: freight to the advance warehouse, show-service orders, installation and storage, with one project manager on your emails in your time zone.
Short on time? A Cell Bio rental carrying your graphics can be ready in two to three weeks. The first call tells you what is realistic for your date.
Get a proposal
Tell us about your Cell Bio booth
What happens next
- You get a reply within one business day, asking about your products, goals and footprint at Cell Bio.
- Usually within a week, you receive a concept rendering and a fixed Cell Bio proposal. No fee left off: every Cell Bio cost is listed upfront, on paper.
- We build in 30–45 days, ship to the Cell Bio advance warehouse and install before the hall opens.